Gzb: CM Yogi seeks support for BJP candidates in teachers’, graduates’ polls’

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday visited Ghaziabad seeking support of its two candidates for the Meerut-Saharanpur Techers’ and Graduates’ constituencies, for which the election is scheduled for October 23

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday visited Ghaziabad seeking support of its two candidates for the Meerut-Saharanpur Techers’ and Graduates’ constituencies, for which the election is scheduled for October 23.

Addressing a rally at a college near Masuri, Adityanath alleged that the SP is not bothered about the future of youth (Sakib Ali/HT)

BJP’s Shrichand Sharma is pitted against Nitin Kumar Tomar of the Samajwadi Party (SP) from the Teachers’ constituency. For graduates’ constituency, BJP’s Dinesh Kumar Goyal is contesting against SP’s Pramesh Singh.

Teachers’ and Graduates’ constituencies are special electoral colleges that elect a fraction of members to the upper house in the bicameral UP state legislature.

Addressing a rally at a college near Masuri, Adityanath alleged that the SP is not bothered about the future of youth. “No matter how much SP lectures on education, its credibility is like that of a crocodile on the riverbank, claiming to help anyone who wants to cross the river.”

He said when SP was in power, Uttar Pradesh was known for “riots, curfews, and lawlessness”.

Adityanath said the BJP-led government in UP has provided jobs to 9,500,000 youths since 2017.

“Results for more than 32,600 candidates in the UP Police recruitment exam had been declared. Results for the recruitment of more than 42,000 home guards were also announced. The teacher recruitment process was in its final stage,” he added.

Taking potshots at SP, Adityanath said the PDA acronym coined by the opposition party means “Pariwar Development Authority”, as it has nominated a dynast and a businessman for Rajya Sabha.

“PDA means Pariwar Development Authority, as they nominated their ‘Chacha jaan’ (Ram Gopal Yadav) and Dhanna Seth (Dhanraj Parimal Nathwani) from Uttar Pradesh. This is their reality,” Adityanath said.

The SP has coined the concept of PDA—Pichhda (backward classes/OBCs), Dalit, and Alpasankhyak (minorities)—to build a broader social and political coalition.

Responding to the allegations, SP’s district president Faizal Hussain said the BJP is afraid of the PDA after its poor performance in UP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

“The CM has the same speech that he recites every time he appears in a public rally. The youth, farmers, and masses are annoyed with the BJP on the ground, and they know the ground-level realities. Medical facilities and education have not improved, jobs are hard to find, and people are suffering. The core sectors have been left in the hands of private players close to the BJP. They want to win elections by manipulating the system and don’t rely on their achievements,” he added.